Dentist leaves warning for sign in mouth: It looks a little soft, but it could be cancer

Pi know it's a simple pain, but the truth is, it could be something more serious. A dentist leaves a serious warning about mouth signs that may be related to oral cancer.

At Daily Mail, dentist Catherine Brady warned of some symptoms that are easy to devalue and that need some extra attention. “It's easy to ignore an ulcer, stain or lump, especially if it doesn't hurt” he began by saying.

Aphtha? It could be more serious

“ Most changes won't be cancer, but you need a professional diagnosis to be sure. If anything seems unusual to you, contact a dentist or doctor. She is not wasting anyone’s time,” she continues.

It warns that you need to know the signs of oral cancer that can affect both gums, tongue, inner cheeks and even lips.  

“Ulcers that do not disappear, whether in the gum or tongue, in three weeks can be one of the easiest signs to identify.  If your tongue has some kind of painless ulcer that doesn't go away in a few weeks, that's one of the biggest warning signs of oral cancer” says Catherine Brady.

If any kind of ulcer or aphtha is not healed in three weeks, it is best to make an emergency appointment. If you do not get it from your dentist, the specialist reveals that you should seek your doctor.

“ Other common symptoms include a red or white spot inside the mouth, an unusual lump or swelling in the mouth, lip or neck, difficulty swallowing and hoarse voice. Smoking, drinking alcohol and human papillomavirus (HPV) may cause infections and may be other major causes.”

Among other risk factors, the use of e-cigarettes, poor diet and excess alcohol. 

Risk of oral cancer is higher for people with these four habits

Oral cancer is a silent and frequently diagnosed disease in advanced condition. Although many associate their development with factors such as genetics, the truth is that many cases are directly related to daily habits.

“ Mouth tumors are increasing globally. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption remain the most significant risk factors, but we are seeing an increasing number of cases associated with HPV [human papilloma virus]”, warns doctor Nigel Carter, director of the Oral Health Foundation, an institution in the United Kingdom, quoted by the newspaper Metropolis. As Carter explains, many cases are associated with unprotected sex and sexually transmitted infections. 

The risk of oral cancer is also higher in people who smoke. “Who smokes or has smoked for many years should visit the dentist for more detailed evaluations,” he suggests.

Alcohol intake is also to be avoided. “Most people do not associate the risk of high alcohol intake with the probability of developing neoplasias and this is worrying, since the drink is as dangerous to the body as a cigarette,” he explains.

The doctor also says that feeding can play a decisive role. A study by the Oral Health Foundation concluded that avoiding fruit consumption may increase the risk of oral cancer by up to 48%. The danger is also high for those who do not reach the required daily amounts of calcium and vitamin C.